Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has set a target to vaccinate 2.8 million children in Mindanao against measles and rubella, diseases that are highly contagious and can lead to serious complications and death. According to Philippines News Agency, as of February 20, the DOH has successfully vaccinated 2.3 million children, which accounts for 82 percent of its target. These vaccinations were conducted at temporary and fixed sites established by local government units across the region. Notably, 517,981 of the vaccinated children were from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The DOH has emphasized the importance of reaching at least 95 percent vaccination coverage in Mindanao to achieve herd immunity and mitigate the risk of a measles-rubella outbreak. Currently, 520,645 children below five years old in Mindanao, including those in BARMM, have yet to receive their vaccinations. The Department of Health has issued a warning about the high risk of measles and rubella outbreaks i n Mindanao due to the significant number of unvaccinated children. The DOH has also reminded the public that routine immunizations will continue to be available at health centers. In 2024, the World Health Organization reported that there were at least 95,000 measles-related deaths globally, predominantly affecting unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of five.